John Trapp on Proverbs 17:19

Verſ. 19. Hee loveth tranſgreſſion that loveth ſtrife] Its ſtrange that any ſhould love ſtrife, that Hell-hag, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. And yet ſome, like Trouts, love to ſwim againſt the ſtream; like Salamanders, they live in the fire of contention; like Phocion, they hold it a goodly thing to diſſent from others; like Pyrrhus, they are a people that delight in war, Pſal. 68.30. Like Davids enemies, I am for peace, ſaith hee, (that was his Motto) but when I ſpeak of it,Pſal. 120.7. they are for war. Theſe unquiet ſpirits are of the Devil doubtleſſe, that turbulent creature, that troubler of Gods Iſrael. Hee knows, that where envying and ſtrife is, there is confuſion and every evil work, James 3.16. and that hee loveth tranſgreſſion, that loveth ſtrife; hee taketh pleaſure in ſin, which is the cauſe of his unquietneſſe. Good therefore and worthy of all acceptation, is the counſel of the Pſalmiſt; Ceaſe from anger, and forſake wrath; fret not thy ſelf in any wiſe to do evil, Pſal. 37.8. Hee that frets much, will ſoon bee drawn to do evil. An angry man ſtirs up ſtrife, and a furious man aboundeth in tranſgreſſion, Prov. 29.22. Hence our Saviour bids, Have ſalt within your ſelves, that is, mortifie your corruptions, and then, bee at Peace one with another, Mark 9.50. Hence alſo Saint James ſaith, that the wiſdome from above is firſt pure, and then peaceable. And Saint Paul oft joyns faith and love together; there can bee no true love to, and good agreement with men, till the heart bee purified by faith from the love of ſin.

And hee that exalteth his gate, ſeeketh deſtruction] Eventually hee ſeeketh it, though not intentionally: that exalteth his gate, that is, his whole houſe, (a part being put for the whole) which hee that builds over-ſumptuouſly, is in the ready rode to beggery, the begger will ſoon have him by the back, as they ſay; quaerit rupturam, hee will ſhortly break. Others read the words thus, And hee enlargeth his gate that ſeeketh a breach, that is, ſay they, hee that picketh quarrels, and is contentious, ſetteth open a wide door to let in many miſchiefs.